---
title: What is a Pharmacy Technician
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/what-is-a-pharmacy-technician/"
type: page
date_published: 2025-08-19
date_modified: 2026-05-12
schema:
  @type: WebPage
language: en-US
word_count: 1170
reading_time: 6 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/what-is-a-pharmacy-technician/"
---

# What is a Pharmacy Technician

![Arizona College hero bars graphic](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/themes/arizona-college/assets/svg/hero-bars.svg)

# What is a Pharmacy Technician?

Classes begin June 1st

![How to become a Pharmacy Technician](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/icon-local_pharmacy.svg?w=1024)

[Pharmacy Technician](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/)

![Icon for Pharmacy Technician Program Near Me](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/icon-pharma-tech-white.svg?w=1024)

[Become a Pharm Tech](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/how-to-become-a-pharmacy-technician/)

![Icon for Accredited Nursing School](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/icon-certified-white.svg?w=1024)

[Certified Pharm Tech](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/becoming-a-certified-pharmacy-technician/)

## What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They
work as part of a team filling prescriptions by preparing and dispensing
pharmaceutical drugs to customers or other healthcare professionals. If working
in a retail setting, they also provide customer service directly to those who
visit the pharmacy.

When a patient prescription is received, pharmacy technicians create and update
patient profiles in the computer database, review contact and insurance
information, document any drug allergies, and verify the patient’s current
medications to reduce the likelihood of a drug interaction.

![What is a pharmacy technician?](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/What-Does-A-Pharmacy-Tech-Do.jpg)

## Having A Positive Attitude Is A Recipe For Success For Pharmacy Techs

Pharmacy technicians enjoy the benefit and important responsibility of providing
patients with the medications they need. Because they provide services to many
people, they must be excellent communicators.

Pharmacy Techs also must have a positive and respectful attitude toward
patients, pharmacists, and support staff. Presenting a friendly face and
positive attitude is always a recipe for success when working in the healthcare
industry.

## Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

What does a pharmacy technician do and what is their role in the pharmacy? If
you want to become a technician in the healthcare industry or enroll in a 
[pharmacy technician school](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/how-to-become-a-pharmacy-technician/)
, you’ve probably been asking these questions. Before getting too overwhelmed in
research on program curriculum, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the
duties, requirements, and the actual day-to-day responsibilities of a pharmacy
technician.

Technicians require medical, administrative, and customer service skills. In
addition to behind-the-counter tasks (e.g. mixing, compounding, and dispensing
of prescription drugs), pharmacy technicians complete numerous tasks throughout
their shift that require interacting with patients including the following:

Greeting customers and receiving written prescription forms.

Filling requisitions for prescription drugs.

Reviewing physician’s orders for proper dosage, drug allergies, and
incompatibilities.

Using computer hardware and software systems.

Data processing for insurance purposes.

Performing frequent inventory on all drugs, including verification of expiration
dates and recalled items.

Assisting customers by answering the phone, locating over-the-counter
medication, and answering general questions.

Acting as a liaison between the pharmacy and physicians for prescription
requests and authorizations.

Creating prescriptions by compounding multiple ingredients and measuring the
proper dosages.

Operating cash registers.

Pharmacy technicians are essential in making the pharmacy run smoothly by
keeping it sterile and orderly. They also often assist in completing inventory
control and ensuring correct labeling and appropriate storage for medications.
As many pharmacies are open weekends and evenings, a pharmacy technician’s work
schedule may vary from a typical 9-5 in order to accommodate operating hours.
Plus, the demand for pharmacy techs is high in order to fill those extended days
with qualified professionals.

![How to become a certified pharmacy technician](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pharmacy-technician.webp)

## What is the process to become a certified pharmacy technician?

Typically, pharmacy technicians receive formal training from an accredited
institution such as Arizona College. All pharmacy technician students must
obtain their trainee license prior to starting the externship portion of our
program.

Upon successfully completing the program, graduates who wish to become certified
pharmacy technicians can register to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification
Examination through the 
[Pharmacy Technician Certification Board](https://www.ptcb.org/) (PTCB).
Certification can enhance your resume and demonstrate competency in the field.

## Pharmacy Technician Job Examples

Pharmacy technicians in pharmacies, grocery stores, and retail stores work with
the general public. They communicate with customers in person in addition to
speaking with healthcare professionals on the phone to verify prescriptions.

Pharmacy technicians care for those admitted to hospitals and nursing facilities
by creating, dispensing, and delivering medications to the nursing staff and
other healthcare professionals.

Pharmacy technicians who work in this environment do not provide direct patient
care and instead work in a solitary work environment. If you think you may enjoy
the work of a pharmacy technician, but are more of a “behind the scenes” type of
person, a mail-order pharmacy might be an enjoyable work environment for you.

![Arizona College watermark graphic](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/themes/arizona-college/dist/images/azc-iconmark.svg)

## Take the first step toward your new Pharmacy Technician career today!

If you enjoy providing customer service, are detail-oriented, and can imagine
yourself working alongside a pharmacist, then a career as a pharmacy technician
is going to be a great fit for you! For more information on our 
[Pharmacy Technician program](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/)
, complete an information request form and an Arizona College representative
will contact you.

This training program is offered at our 
[Glendale](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/glendale-campus/) and 
[Mesa](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/mesa-campus/) campuses.
Pharmacy Technician training at Arizona College is 
[ASHP](https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Technician-Program-Accreditation)
 accredited.

## National & Programmatic Accreditation

![ABHES Accredited Nursing School](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/logo-abhes.png)

All Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the 
[Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)](https://www.abhes.org/)
, a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.

![ASHP Accredited Healthcare Program School](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/768510.webp)

The Pharmacy Technician program at Arizona College, Glendale is
[ASHP accredited](https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Technician-Program-Accreditation)
. Accreditation is the act of granting credit or recognition, especially to an
educational institution that maintains quality and compliance with the ASHP
standards.

## Guide to Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

Ready to make a difference in healthcare? Explore the path to becoming a
pharmacy technician today.

![icon for rn nursing schools near me](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WEB_READING.svg)

#### 󠀁[What pharmacy technician courses do I need to take?](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/course-descriptions/)󠁿

![Healthcare Program Glossary of Terms](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WEB_ReadingComprehension-1.svg)

#### 󠀁[How do I learn pharmacy technician terms?](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/pharmacy-technician/glossary-of-terms-pharmacy-technician/)󠁿

![icon for nursing programs near me](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WEB_AnatomyPhysiology-1.svg)

#### 󠀁[How do I start my healthcare career?](https://arizonacollege.edu/healthcare-careers/)󠁿